Binny for Short by Hilary McKay - OPTIONAL

McKay, Hilary Binny for Short, 291 pgs. Hodder Children’s Books, 2013. $16.99. Language: PG (1 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: G.  

Binny, 11, has already experienced a lot of loss in her short life. She lost her father and as a result of that she has to give up everything else including her best friend Max, her border collie. She blames her mean Aunty Violet for giving Max away and she never stops searching for him even after her Aunty Violet dies and leaves her house on the seashore to Binny’s family. Binny continues to have guilt for wishing for Aunty Violet’s death and swears her ghost is haunting her personally. 

I found the story very endearing but found it a bit hard to follow the story the way the author bounced around so much. I think younger children would have a hard time following the layout of this book. There was also some cigarette experimenting going on and some sexual insinuation. 

EL-OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Carie Middle School Librarian

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman - ESSENTIAL

Eddleman, Peggy Sky Jumpers, 275 pgs. Random House, 2013. $16.99. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG. 

Hope is the protagonist of this story and she has a lot to prove to her family and her town. She was not a very good inventor and that is all that matters in the town of White Rock. White Rock is a town that was established after World War 3 and the townspeople are trying desperately to come up with inventions to replace all the things that were lost due to the war. Hope has to dig deep and find her own talents to help her family and the whole town. 

I loved this book, it grabbed me right away and it made me smile and tear up a few times. It is a very clean book and only got a PG rating from me for violence because of the way the bandits treated the townspeople and used a gun once. I loved the way the author wrote this book, it flowed from beginning to end and I could hardly put it down. The story is one girls quest to find herself and the talents she has to offer her family and community. 

EL-ESSENTIAL. Reviewer: Carie Middle School Librarian

After the River the Sun by Dia Calhoun - ESSENTIAL

Calhoun, Dia  After the River the Sun, 347 pgs. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2013. $16.

Content: G

A book in verse written from the perspective of a young boy who has lost his parents in a tragic rafting accident. This story begins as Eckhart is travelling by bus to meet his uncle after living in foster homes for four months. His uncle has agreed to take him in for a trial period.  Eckhart is recovering from pneumonia and the hard work of the farm is difficult and hateful to him.  Eckhart meets Eva who has a wild imagination about the Knights of the Round Table and she shares her special places, the Chapel Perilous, with him.  Through his imaginary life as a knight and with Eva help, he tries to conquer his fears through trials and quests. 

From the moment I read this story I was hooked into the description that captivated each scene.   The shared story between the reality of Uncle Al and the Green Knight were fascinating and made me ponder about our trials in life and how relating them to a quest was a phenomenal idea .  

EL/MS - ESSENTIAL. 

Reviewer: Library Media Specialist, RJH Library.

Ghost Flower by Michelle Jaffe - NO

Jaffe, Michelle Ghost Flower, 358 pages;  Razorbill (Penguin Group) 2012. $9.99 Mature content: PG13, violence PG13.  

On the swears words, I stopped counting at 30 not even half way through the book, and it felt awkward as if the author just wanted to be edgy; no F words however.  A brother and sister think they have lucked out when they find their cousin’s doppelganger.   They plan to set her up as their cousin so she can claim the cousin’s inheritance.  

A twisty, turning mystery, but way too many holes left gaping at the end.  There are sexual undertones and overtones, a non-graphic lesbian relationship, a hint at incest, suicide and murder, and fairly immoral activities passed off casually.  The interest level would be high school, but most high school students would figure it out quickly and then be disappointed.  

NOT RECOMMENDED

Hostage Three by Nick Lake - OPTIONAL

Lake, Nick Hostage Three, 368 pages; Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2013. $17.99.  Approximately 20 swear words, 13 F words. 

This is Amy Field’s story.  Her mother had suffered from mental illness most of Amy’s life, but when her mom commits suicide and her dad remarries with in the year, the wheels come off of Amy’s life.  To “fix” things, Amy’s Dad buys an elegant yacht and plans a six month trip around the world.  The adventure of a lifetime turns into a fight for a lifetime when Somali pirates hi-jack the yacht and Amy becomes Hostage Three.  The language is tough, there is one very brutal scene that starts out as an attempted rape and ends up as an execution, but the book has an excellent moral.  At the end of the book sullen broken Amy realizes that broken can be fixed.  

Mature themes PG13, violence PG13 maybe R but interesting story and background material make it palatable.  High School interest level, a hesitant yes on the recommendation. 

HS – OPTIONAL.